problems following surgery- keeps removing stiches

Question
QUESTION: My little friend, Patches had surgery to remove a tumor earlier this week. Two days later she pulled out her stitches. I got her back to the vet. He once again stitched her up, using medical glue and metal sutures. Two days later and she is back to her old trick. She is working on removing the stitches again. It won't take her long to finish the job at the rate she is going.

She is in a cage by herself recuperating. I think she is board and is picking at her scab to occupy her mind in the evenings after I go to bed!!! What can I say, she is a spoiled rotten rattie.

I tried wrapping gauze around her to discourage her antics. That did not work. I even played with the idea of putting New Skin over it. I am hesitant to take this action for a number of reasons.  I won't be able to get her back to the vet until after Christmas.

I didn't have any problems with my other two girls following their surgeries... All three of them are around 2 1/2 years old.

Please advise,
Susan



ANSWER: Its not the rats fault, its the vets fault.

For starters, the vet should stitch from inside out, therefore there will be no way for her to get to the internal stitches. Second, is she on pain medication?  If she is only on something mild like metacam, she is probably uncomfortable. She of course associates her discomfort with the stitches and is removing them trying to get rid of the pain. Third, since he did NOT stitch her internally, the stitches probably pull and pinch and again, back to being uncomfortable again and she is trying to relieve the pain.  Put her back with her cagemates. I am sure the stress of being without them isnt helping much.  Vets worry that the cagemates may mess with the rats surgical incision but rarely does this occur. Keeping her from her family is also not helping with her stress levels and could also be another reason for picking herself.  Trying to prevent whatever it is the vet thinks he will prevent by keeping her solo is simply making things backfire.  I am just sharing with you the things I have learned about rats and post op recovery over the years as per my experience both with my own rats and clinic rats along with adding a bit of knowledge I have on extensive studies on rat behavior.
I dont want to go against the Vets orders, but simply letting you know that I see several reasons for her behavior.
You said she removed the stitches, but the truth is, it shouldnt be very deep of an incision like it would be if she were spayed or had other invasive surgery. usually with tumor surgery the incision is mostly superficial and you wont see muscle and tissue o have alot of blood loss. I would keep it clean and dry and remove all bedding/litter using paper towels ripped up in the litter box for a day or so while she heals. Can you possibly take a photo of how  it looks?          
  You can attach it right here at the end of your message to me by clicking the ATTACH PHOTO button (I think that is what it is called)


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DSCN0938   QUESTION: Patches is not on any pain medication. Please let me know what I can give her. I don't want to have her put under again for additional surgery ( re-stitched) if I can help it. I love her very much!!!

Answer

No pain medication? No wonder she pulls them out. THey hurt, he wants them out. Its simple. I dont blame him.

What about antibiotics?  I would call your vet and INSIST on metacam which is nothing more than a glorified advil/motrin and helps for mild discomfort. If this vet is selfish enough that he has not given your rat anything as it, I doubt you will get antibiotics either, which  concerns me since that looks a bit angry now. it doesnt look as if it needs stitched again  and frankly, she is just going to rip them out again anyhow because this vet is not making it comfortable for her and she wants them Oh YOU T OUT!!          

I would keep the area clean, pat it dry and apply a bit of neosporin around the outer part but not inside the tissue. Is there drainage at all? If so, what color is it?  

keep her from litter if you can....shred up paper towels for  now and change out several times a day.

How are things today?

Would you like the name of other vets in your area and if so let me know your location.  No obligation of course....